I can’t find the original results or the methodology behind this poll, and it sounds fishy too me, but the NYC Coalition For a Smoke-Free City is propping up mayor Bloomberg’s plan to ban smoking in all bars with a poll that says 75% of New Yorkers would support the ban. But hold on: It sounds like the question was a vague one about banning smoking in the workplace? And was it explained that the group considers bars and restaurants workplaces (for waiters and bartenders), while many respondents probably think of those places as recreation-places? If I was asked if they should ban smoking in the workplace, I’d say of course. But if they asked me if they should ban smoking in bars, I’d disagree completely.

But let’s say it’s true that 75% of New Yorkers prefer to go out to smoke-free restaurants and bars. That would constitute a spectacular argument against the need for government controls on consenting adults pursuing a social vice: In the highly competitive New York bar and restaurant scene, owners would spontaneously decide to make their bars smokefree in order to attract this overwhelmingly non-smoking clientele. A smaller number of venues–say 25%–would continue to welcome smokers. Non-smoking waitstaff (about 75% of the total, say) would work in the non-smoking places, smoking waitstaff in the other places.

Why isn’t this happening? Perhaps because the “poll” is a load of bollocks?